MADE ON TAPE - ‘IMPULSE’
‘Impulse’ by Made on Tape, from the album ‘When Can I Stop this Silly Impulse’, is out now!
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Made on Tape is an R&B/Soul artist born and raised near Detroit. Having performed on Broadway and creatively contributed to other independent projects that include Collin Stanley and DDWhite, Made on Tape commenced his career as a solo artist this year.
Currently living in New York City, the bassist/producer otherwise known as Chris Agar, began developing his discography in 2020. In March, Made on Tape released his debut EP: ‘Why Am I Doing This To Myself’. In April, he released the sixteen minute EP: ‘How Will I Justify This Habit Today’, and on the 26th of May, Made on Tape released his third EP: ‘When Can I Stop this Silly Impulse’. When asked about the origin of the Made on Tape title, he had this to say:
“This Made on Tape project stems from inheriting a 1987 cassette 4-track recorder from my dad”
One of the main questions surrounding this intriguing project is: “Why tape?”. Made on Tape explained that he is not some sort of “low-fi” snob, enjoying music from Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue to Daft Punk’s Random Access Memories, but rather Made on Tape has three main reasons for choosing tape over more modern recording methods.
Firstly, “editing is difficult or impossible on tape”. Considering the infinite amount of times one can re-record on a digital platform, Made on Tape’s utilisation of cassette based recordings results in a more authentic sound that adds the pressure of either dealing with the “mistakes” or recording the entire track again.
Secondly, the ten track limit. With a digital system, the amount of tracks is seemingly limitless, whereas a four-track cassette forces the artist to carefully choose each part meticulously.
“It forces you to make strong artistic choices and trim the fat around your imagination”
Thirdly, no screens. In a world of digital interfaces that are designed to be aesthetically pleasing to the user, it’s hard to avoid being distracted by the screen while recording. Made on Tape avoids this potential problem entirely.
“The TASCAM Porta Two is cool, but not enough to stare at while performing”
FEATURED RELEASE
‘Impulse’ by Made on Tape, from the album ‘When Can I Stop this Silly Impulse’, is out now! The latest album from Made on Tape was mastered by James Q. in Astoria and recorded on a TASCAM Porta Two four-track cassette tape and mixed down to a TEAC A-2340 reel-to-reel.
Sitting in at around 84bpm, this single begins with a foundational bass-line that is combined with an electric guitar using perfectly synchronised melodic imitation. The stringed combo is met with a percussive beat at the 0:12 mark that controls the pace of the groove for the rest of the single.
A simple yet catchy keys riff drops in just over thirty seconds in, adding a new layer of instrumentation that compliments the guitar/bass line. Occasional electric guitar riffs, like the one found at 0:50, add a creative flare to the track without dominating the other instrumentation.
Fans of creative and innovative instrumental music will definitely want to check this track out. Make sure you follow Made on Tape on his social media to keep up to date with upcoming releases and performances!
ARTIST: Made on Tape
SINGLE: Impulse
ALBUM: When Can I Stop this Silly Impulse
GENRE: R&B/Soul
RELEASE: 26.05.20
